Best Ethan Ullman Podcasts (2025)

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James Polchin: Shadow Men 59:21

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23h ago59:21

59:21

Our story this week is set in the 1920s in Westchester County, New York…it’s a Jazz Age mystery. A young ex-sailor is found dead on a desolate road. A suspect from a wealthy family admits to the murder, but he claims that he was trying to protect a dangerous secret. Author James Polchin’s book, Shadow Men unravels a mystery more than a century old.…

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Dan Slater: The Incorruptibles 59:01

8d ago59:01

59:01

New York in the early 1900s was filled with people trying to make their lives better. But for many, the rise of organized crime kept them in constant fear. On the Lower East Side, Jewish criminals from Eastern Europe formed crime syndicates. There were gangs of horse poisoners, casino owners, thieves and thugs. But then a group of Jewish uptowners …

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Tanya Talaga: The Knowing 56:48

15d ago56:48

56:48

If you’ve ever dug deep into your family history, you know that there are sometimes surprises. Author Tanya Talaga discovered that the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter was mostly unknown because she was Indigenous. It’s a struggle that many Indigenous people in Canada have: how do you learn about your family’s past without crucia…

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Episode 259" - Definitive Top 5 Weird Al Song Cameos (Part 2) 1:01:27

20d ago1:01:27

1:01:27

Dave and Ethan are joined by Matt Kelly and Matthew Milligan of the Weird Al-Gorithm podcast for the second part of the discussion to collectively determine the Definitive Top 5 Notable Weird Al Song Cameos! ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Hosted …

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Alex Eliseev: Cold Case Confession 56:51

22d ago56:51

56:51

This week on Wicked Words on Exactly Right: in 1999, a woman named Betty Ketani went missing in Johannesburg, South Africa. She just vanished from the restaurant where she was working. Then a letter found 13 years later changed everything. Author Alex Eliseev tells me about his book Cold Case Confession—a real Agatha Christie story. Support this po…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 9 cm – Salt Lake City, UT (June 23, 2025) 2:13:27

27d ago2:13:27

2:13:27

Dave and Ethan recap the June 23, 2025 show at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, UT from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour! ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Hosted by Dave “Elvis” Rossi and Ethan Ullman, two Weird Al super fans, collectors,…

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Megan Abbott: El Dorado Drive 58:40

29d ago58:40

58:40

New York Times’ best-selling author Megan Abbott often uses true crime stories as a jumping off point for her wildly popular novels. Now she has a new book out called El Dorado Drive. It’s about three sisters who become entangled in a pyramid scheme that turns very dark. The real story behind the novel is so strange, it’s hard to know what really h…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 8 cm – Las Vegas, NV #6 (June 21, 2025) 1:49:27

1M ago1:49:27

1:49:27

Dave and Ethan recap the sixth and final night of Weird Al’s Las Vegas residency! Join them for a lively discussion of the June 21, 2025 show at The Venetian Theatre from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour. ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Hoste…

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Caroline Fraser: Murderland 53:12

1M ago53:12

53:12

This week’s author grew up in the Pacific Northwest with the memories of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer, who also lived there. But the region wasn’t just home to those two murderers: there were many more. Was there a connection between the Pacific Northwest’s most infamous killers…and its incredible amounts of po…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 7 cm – Las Vegas, NV #5 (June 20, 2025) 1:55:27

1M ago1:55:27

1:55:27

Dave and Ethan recap the fifth night of Weird Al’s Las Vegas residency! Join them for a lively discussion of the June 20, 2025 show at The Venetian Theatre from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour. ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Hosted by Dave …

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Matthew McGough + Rick Jackson: Black Tunnel White Magic 1:03:43

1M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

In 1990, a UCLA student was found murdered in a tunnel in LA. Detective Rick Jackson and his partner were assigned to the complicated case. Who had a motive to stab Ronald Baker? Was the pentagram pendant around his neck a clue? Author Matthew McGough and Detective Rick Jackson tell the story in their book, Black Tunnel White Magic: A Murder, a Det…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 6 cm – Las Vegas, NV #4 (June 18, 2025) 2:27:27

2M ago2:27:27

2:27:27

Dave and Ethan recap the fourth night of Weird Al’s Las Vegas residency! Join them for a lively discussion of the June 18, 2025 show at The Venetian Theatre from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour. ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Hosted by Dave…

1
Elon Green: The Man Nobody Killed 48:29

2M ago48:29

48:29

We’ve had journalist Elon Green on before to talk about his fantastic book Last Call. His new book is about an inspiring young Black artist in 1980s New York. Michael Stewart ended up dead after encountering a Transit Authority police officer at a 14th Street subway station late one night. Witnesses say that police beat him to death, and it made na…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 5 cm – Riverside, CA (June 17, 2025) 2:56:27

2M ago2:56:27

2:56:27

Dave and Ethan welcome special guests Jeremy Samples, Will King, and Alison Parsons for a fun-filled recap of the June 17, 2025 show at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, CA from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour! ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird A…

1
Jonquilyn Hill: Through the Cracks 52:19

2M ago52:19

52:19

When an 8-year-old disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, nobody noticed for 18 days, even her family. Seven years later, Relisha Rudd has never been found. The Through the Cracks podcast investigates gaps in our society and the people who fall through them. Host Jonquilyn Hill asks what could have been done to find Relish…

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Episode 258" - Definitive Top 5 Weird Al Song Cameos (Part 1) 1:05:27

2M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

Dave and Ethan are joined by Matt Kelly and Matthew Milligan of the Weird Al-Gorithm podcast for the first part of the discussion to collectively determine the Definitive Top 5 Notable Weird Al Song Cameos! ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Hosted b…

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Mary Kay McBrayer: Madame Queen 47:02

2M ago47:02

47:02

This week on Wicked Words we’re traveling back to 1923 Harlem and its seedy world of gambling and racketeering. Author Mary Kay McBrayer tells me about Stephanie St. Clair. She was one of the only female crime bosses in the city. Madame Queen was also a Black, self-made businesswoman. And a legend. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponso…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 4 cm – Las Vegas, NV (June 15, 2025) 3:48:27

2M ago3:48:27

3:48:27

Dave and Ethan welcome special guests Jon Katz, Will King, Alison Parsons, and Alicia Carney for a fun-filled recap of the third night of Weird Al’s Las Vegas residency! Join them for a lively discussion of the June 15, 2025 show at The Venetian Theatre from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour. ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podc…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 3 cm – Las Vegas, NV #2 (June 14, 2025) 3:04:27

2M ago3:04:27

3:04:27

Dave and Ethan welcome special guest Jackie Rossi for a fun-filled recap of the second night of Weird Al’s Las Vegas residency! Join them for a lively discussion of the June 14, 2025 show at The Venetian Theatre from Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour. ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, ca…

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Duncan McCue: Kuper Island 1:02:41

3M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Kuper Island is a remarkable podcast, an investigation into one of Canada’s most notorious so called Indian residential schools. Journalist Duncan McCue explores the unsolved death of a student, a tragedy that sheds light on rampant abuse and exposes the trauma of three survivors. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promot…

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Bigger & Weirder (& Longer?!) Bonus Episode 2 cm - Las Vegas, NV #1 (June 13, 2025) 4:06:27

3M ago4:06:27

4:06:27

Dave and Ethan welcome special guests Jackie Rossi and Alison Parsons as they recap opening night of Weird Al’s 2025 Bigger & Weirder tour! Join them for a lively discussion of the June 13, 2025 show at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, NV. ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fand…

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Thomas Maier: The Invisible Spy 1:00:08

3M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

I love a good spy story. We’ve talked about spies embedded with the American government. We’ve discussed librarians and academics researching in the basement of the Library of Congress during World War II. And now we’re talking with Thomas Maier about a very unlikely spy, a former football player turned spy for Churchill. It’s all in his book, The …

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Episode 257" - Tonight Show w/ Fallon Recap & Tour Preview 1:31:27

3M ago1:31:27

1:31:27

Dave and Ethan recap their visit to the live taping of Weird Al's appearance on the June 9, 2025 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon! Dave and Ethan also discuss and speculate what's known and what's to come for Weird Al’s Bigger & Weirder Tour that starts later this week! ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has co…

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Virginia Feito: Victorian Psycho 49:49

3M ago49:49

49:49

Occasionally we interview fiction authors who use true crime stories as jumping off points for their novels. Virginia Feito wrote a book called “Victorian Psycho.” And it’s based on several cases you’ve likely heard of. There’s a lecherous head of house, a jealous wife…and a violent governess. Very violent. Feito uses gallows humor to take real sto…

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Claire St. Amant: Killer Story 59:39

3M ago59:39

59:39

I’m so excited about this interview. It’s with Claire St. Amant. She’s a journalist and an author. And she was a TV producer for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes. Now she’s pulling back the curtain on true crime television. I learned a lot from her. She’s talking about her memoir: Killer Story. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and p…

1
Gilbert King: Bone Valley 1:04:29

4M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

We might have our first Pulitzer Prize winner on our show. Author Gilbert King digs into cases of wrongful conviction. Today, we’re talking about his outstanding podcast, Bone Valley Season 2. Gilbert explores the 1987 murder of Michelle Schofield in Florida. It’s a story of justice, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption. Support this podc…

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Episode 256" - Mike Solton (Part 3) 1:11:27

4M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Dave and Ethan welcome Mike Solton for the third and final part of his renowned interview about his lifelong friendship with Weird Al. Mike shares an exclusive lost Weird Al music recording, reveals his integral role in the creation of Al-TV, and regales us with incredible insights into Weird Al's songs, music videos and rarities. ABOUT Since 2019,…

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Christopher Goffard: Crimes of the Times 44:46

4M ago44:46

44:46

LA Times reporter Christopher Goffard was the voice behind the hit podcast “Dirty John.” And now he has a new podcast that covers crimes in Los Angeles that made headlines, stories like the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer at the hands of a stalker. He tells me about his show, “Crimes of the Times.” Support this podcast by shopping our latest sp…

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Pagan Kennedy: The Secret History of the Rape Kit 51:29

4M ago51:29

51:29

This week on Wicked Words, years ago author Pagan Kennedy wondered about the history of the rape kit, a crucial tool for investigators today. Who designed it? She found out that it was Martha Goddard, a pioneer who wanted to help police catch sexual predators using forensics. But sometime after she made history, Goddard vanished. Listen to Kennedy’…

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Brendan Koerner: The Skies Belong to Us 57:37

4M ago57:37

57:37

Plane hijackings aren’t very common anymore. But in the late 1960s and early 1970s, armed criminals were forcing commercial airliners to divert their flights, oftentimes demanding ransom. Author Brendan Koerner tells the story of an American couple turned hijackers, whose journey ends with some surprising twists. Koerner’s book is called: The Skies…

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Episode 255" - Dr. Demento's 84th Birthday Celebration Recap 1:12:27

5M ago1:12:27

1:12:27

Dave and Ethan catch up on Weird Al news and talk about their weekend of Weird Al related fun including attending Dr. Demento's private birthday celebration and catching Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz performing with another band! ABOUT Since 2019, Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast has covered all facets of the life, career, and fandom of “Weird Al” Ya…

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Hallie Lieberman: The Devil Went Down to Georgia 53:56

5M ago53:56

53:56

For years, a predator preyed on gay men in Atlanta. He was known as the Handcuff Man. He attacked male sex workers, disfigured them, and then left them for dead. Journalist Hallie Lieberman wrote a fantastic piece for The Atavist Magazine called The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions…

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Joseph Cox: Dark Wire 1:01:05

5M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

In 2018, the FBI discovered that high level criminals around the world were using encrypted devices to plot intricate crimes. When a powerful, secure new app began courting these syndicates, members of the underworld flocked to it. One problem for the criminals: the app was created by the FBI. Joseph Cox tells us the incredible story from his book,…

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Avril Speaks: Uprooted 52:44

5M ago52:44

52:44

In 1986, 17-year-old Keith Warren was found hanging from a tree in Silver Spring, Maryland. His sister wanted answers—how did he die? It was ruled a suicide, but there were so many suspicious things about Keith’s death. I talked to filmmaker Avril Speaks about her docuseries, “Uprooted,” which covers Keith’s case. Support this podcast by shopping o…

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Lana Hall: The Incel Terrorist 45:21

5M ago45:21

45:21

This is a story about a landmark case in Canada from just a few years ago. A teenager attacked two women in a massage parlor in Toronto in 2020. He killed one and seriously injured the other. When he told investigators why he did it, they settled on trying him for murder…and terrorism. Journalist Lana Hall tells me about her piece in Maclean’s maga…

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Lise Olsen: The Scientist and the Serial Killer 58:58

6M ago58:58

58:58

Dean Corll was a serial killer in Houston in the early 1970s. He kidnapped and murdered more than two dozen missing teenage boys before he was murdered by one of his accomplices. Decades later, a forensic anthropologist discovered a box of remains from the case. She spent years using scientific tools to identify some of the unknown victims. Journal…

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Episode 254" - Mike Solton (Part 2) 55:27

6M ago55:27

55:27

Weird Al's childhood friend Mike Solton returns in part two of his interview with Dave and Ethan. Mike discusses unreleased songs he worked on with Al, the radio show they regularly contributed to, and the call-in phone joke line they ran while in high school. If you think you know everything there is to know about Weird Al - Mike Solton will conti…

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Marcia Clark: Trial by Ambush 1:02:00

6M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

It’s been 30 years since the infamous OJ Simpson trial, and the lead prosecutor Marcia Clark has had quite a career since then. She writes fiction and nonfiction books, including the one we’ll talk about today. It’s called Trial by Ambush and it’s a story about a young woman in Burbank, California. In 1953, Barbara Graham was caught-up in a robbery…

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Episode 253" - Mike Solton (Part 1) 50:27

6M ago50:27

50:27

Dave and Ethan kick off their interview with Mike Solton, who first met Weird Al in seventh grade, and have been Close Personal Friends since. In the first part of their multi-episode conversation with Mike, he shares some incredible stories, insights, and revelations about Weird Al's teenage years that you will not want to miss! Summer Woods also …

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Elyse Graham: Book and Dagger 54:23

6M ago54:23

54:23

Did you know that some of the most effective American spies during World War II were librarians and archivists and history professors? Some were locked in the basement of the Library of Congress, analyzing documents. Those documents were being gathered by academics sneaking around Europe, under the noses of the Nazis. Author Elyse Graham tells me t…

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Craig A. Monson: The Black Widows of the Eternal City 47:44

6M ago47:44

47:44

We don’t talk a lot on this show about female killers, but author Craig Monson has brought me a fascinating story right out of a Hollywood film. His book, The Black Widows of the Eternal City, centers on a web of women poisoners in 17th century Rome and their male victims. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at …

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Thomas Morris: The Dublin Railway Murder 58:55

7M ago58:55

58:55

This week on Wicked Words, we’re traveling to 1856 Ireland for a locked-door mystery. A cashier for a Dublin railway station is found dead, savagely beaten. Nothing appears to have been stolen. Can an experienced detective crack this case? Author Thomas Morris tells us the story in his new book The Dublin Railway Murder: The Sensational True Story …

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Rick Jervis: The Devil Behind the Badge 53:22

7M ago53:22

53:22

On this week’s episode of Wicked Words, we’re traveling to the Texas border town of Laredo. When four vulnerable women are murdered, police suspect that a well-respected U.S. Border Patrol agent has turned into a serial killer. Author Rick Jervis tells me the story behind his book, The Devil Behind the Badge: The Horrifying Twelve Days of the Borde…

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Episode 252" - SF Sketchfest 2025 Recap 1:17:27

7M ago1:17:27

1:17:27

Dave and Ethan catch up on the latest Weird Al related news, and Ethan recaps his recent trip to San Francisco Sketchfest 2025 where he attended, and participated in, the stimulating reunion performance of Tight & Nerdy, the world's first and only all Weird Al themed burlesque troupe. Ethan also shares his thoughts on the upcoming documentary, afte…

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Rollo Romig: I Am on the Hit List 48:57

7M ago48:57

48:57

When an outspoken journalist in India was assassinated in September of 2017, it shocked the world. The conspiracy that was uncovered by journalists and investigators was disturbing. Author Rollo Romig tells me the story at the center of his book: I Am on the Hit List. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this …

1
Simon Read: Scotland Yard 45:42

7M ago45:42

45:42

Some of my most favorite true crime stories in history come from the UK, specifically London. So I was very excited to talk to author Simon Read about his book: Scotland Yard: A History of the London Police Force's Most Infamous Murder Cases. Read investigated some of Scotland Yard’s most interesting cases and now he’ll tell us about some of them. …

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Michael Arntfield: Monster City 46:12

8M ago46:12

46:12

Police cold-case units have broken some of the country’s most notorious murder cases. Today we're talking to writer Michael Arntfield about Nashville’s cold case Murder Squad and how its lead investigator tracked down the serial killers who terrorized the city in the 80s and 90s. The stories unfold in his book, Monster City: Murder, Music, and Mayh…

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Carol Dawson: The Unforgotten 1:06:08

8M ago1:06:08

1:06:08

I know this sounds like an old story: a woman goes missing and it seems like a cover-up. But when Shelley Watkins’ body was discovered in 1993, floating in a Texas river, her murder really upended the town of Corsicana. Journalist Carol Dawson worked with my buddy Wes Ferguson on the hit podcast, The Unforgotten. Support this podcast by shopping ou…

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Ron Smith: No One is Perfect 53:28

8M ago53:28

53:28

Thirty years before the OJ Simpson trial, a different murder case captured the attention of the country. When a successful Florida businessman is brutally killed in the 1960s, his wife and her nephew become suspects. Their disturbing relationship makes headlines. Author Ron Smith tells me about his book: No One is Perfect. Support this podcast by s…

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Episode 251" - Patrick Thomas O'Brien 55:27

8M ago55:27

55:27

Dave and Ethan kick off 2025 by speaking to Satan. Well... actor Patrick Thomas O'Brien who portrays Satan in Weird Al's first film, UHF! With over 100 acting credits, Patrick is not only known for his memorable role in UHF, but played Mr. Dewey the math teacher in Saved By The Bell in both the original and reboots of the franchise, as well as many…